A critical review of complementary and alternative medicine use by women with cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort: a focus upon prevalence, patterns and applications of use and users' motivations, information seeking and self-perceived efficacy

Fisher, C; Sibbritt, D; Hickman, L; Adams, J

A critical review of complementary and alternative medicine use by women with cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort: a focus upon prevalence, patterns and applications of use and users' motivations, information seeking and self-perceived efficacy

Fisher, C

Sibbritt, D

Hickman, L

Adams, J

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 2016, 95 (8), pp. 861 - 871
Issue Date:: 2016-08-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Fisher, C https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6543-3232	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Sibbritt, D https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3561-9447	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Hickman, L https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5116-6559	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Adams, J https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9901-5717	en_US
dc.date.available	2020-05-25T19:23:36Z
dc.date.issued	2016-08-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 2016, 95 (8), pp. 861 - 871	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0001-6349	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/47546
dc.description.abstract	© 2016 Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology Introduction: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is used for treating cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort. This critical review examines women's reported CAM use, its perceived effectiveness and information relating to women's attitudes, behaviors, motivations and patterns of CAM use in its treatment. Material and methods: An extensive search of the main medical databases EBSCO, CINAHL, Medline, AMED and SCOPUS, as well as additional hand searches, was conducted. Papers included were confined to those that had been peer-reviewed, written in English and that contained original research into CAM use for cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort among adult women. Results: CAM, particularly herbal medicine, nutritional supplements and massage, is widely used for a range of cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort symptoms. A large number of CAM modalities are adopted, often simultaneously and with little professional oversight. Women's assessment of efficacy of different CAM modalities is positive, though the majority of users are self-prescribing apparently without professional guidance. Although the uptake of CAM for cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort is widespread, few empirical data are available regarding which women are using CAM, their motivations for doing so and, importantly, the sources through which women receive information about CAM. Conclusions: This review highlights the extensive use of (often self-prescribed) CAM in a number of countries to alleviate the widespread symptoms of cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort. An understanding of all health care use by women with perimenstrual pain and discomfort is vital to help ensure safe, effective and coordinated health care that can lead to optimal patient outcomes.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1111/aogs.12921	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Menstruation Disturbances	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Complementary Therapies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Motivation	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Women's Health	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Information Seeking Behavior	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Global Health	en_US
dc.title	A critical review of complementary and alternative medicine use by women with cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort: a focus upon prevalence, patterns and applications of use and users' motivations, information seeking and self-perceived efficacy	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	8	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	95	en_US
utslib.for	1104 Complementary and Alternative Medicine	en_US
utslib.for	1114 Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine	en_US
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Nursing
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Public Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Students
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.issue	8	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	95	en_US

Abstract:

© 2016 Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology Introduction: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is used for treating cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort. This critical review examines women's reported CAM use, its perceived effectiveness and information relating to women's attitudes, behaviors, motivations and patterns of CAM use in its treatment. Material and methods: An extensive search of the main medical databases EBSCO, CINAHL, Medline, AMED and SCOPUS, as well as additional hand searches, was conducted. Papers included were confined to those that had been peer-reviewed, written in English and that contained original research into CAM use for cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort among adult women. Results: CAM, particularly herbal medicine, nutritional supplements and massage, is widely used for a range of cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort symptoms. A large number of CAM modalities are adopted, often simultaneously and with little professional oversight. Women's assessment of efficacy of different CAM modalities is positive, though the majority of users are self-prescribing apparently without professional guidance. Although the uptake of CAM for cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort is widespread, few empirical data are available regarding which women are using CAM, their motivations for doing so and, importantly, the sources through which women receive information about CAM. Conclusions: This review highlights the extensive use of (often self-prescribed) CAM in a number of countries to alleviate the widespread symptoms of cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort. An understanding of all health care use by women with perimenstrual pain and discomfort is vital to help ensure safe, effective and coordinated health care that can lead to optimal patient outcomes.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/47546